Orthopedic appliance



Dec, 16, 1930; II' BUCKNER ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCE Filed DeC. 22, 1928 xww. Buckner Inventor Attorney Patented Dec;

UNITED ST TES ' IRWIN BUCKNEB, or sro m wn, vvilsrrm(iron omnorsmc grammar;

; .n icatioameaneem er 2 2, 1ii2s.;]seria1'naiezaszaff My present invention relates to improvements in orthopedic appliances designed to correct deformities and other abnormalities O the nail have become embeddedin the flesh of Y the adjoining portions of the toe, and for holding the nail in positioniuntil the nail can'jv naturally maintainits restored normal posi- V v tion, after which the -'appliance is of course 15 dispensed with.

In carrying out my invention I utilize means whereby the tension for ,drawingthe opposite edges of the nail to normal position is gradually increased without inflicting undue pain to the wearer of the appliance, and

for maintaining the tension devices in proper position to successfully performtheir required functions, in restoringthe nail to 25 normal condition; v v The invention consists in certain :novel combinations and arrangements of parts as" will hereinafterfbe more fully set forth and Y claimed. In the accompanying-drawings I 3 have illustrated one complete example, and a slight modification thereof, of the physical embodiment of imy invention wherein j the clamp levers and bear the fulcrum points parts are combined and arranged according to the best modes I have thus far devised for Y the practical application of the principles of my invention. a a p p I Figure l is a view of a human footwith the appliance of my invention appliedto the nail of the first or great toe. s v "40 Figure 2is an enlargedfront view ofthe toe with the device appliedto the nail and,

the tension-tie twisted.

Figure 3 is'anenlarged perspective view Y of the tension lever or'link detached'irom the 45 intermediatetension-tie.

Figure '4 is a top planview rofthe device inposition onatoe nail. .-Figure 5 is a per I spective view of one of the drawhooks. Fig- --ure 6 is an enlar edtransverse sectional view .50

I the-toes T and-nails N, and'itlwill be understoodthat thein'gro'wing edges of the nail N of the tension'link, and Figure 7 is a per-:

hook.

- -Inorderthat the general arrangement and utility of parts may readily be understoodl have indicated partof a'human foot-4F; with are tob'e'withdrawn from the flesh or skin of the toe'andresto'r'ed to natural position, to gether with the restoration of-the entire 'nail.

toits-natural arched-position. 1 V In actual practice I utilize a pair plementary-clamp-levers as 1 and} 2, each of lever to'fo'rm a fulcrumpoint in contact with o fcomtvhich is' fashionedwitha draw-hook 13atf'one i end 9 and an eyeit at the-other end; while an .intermediate bend 5' is'provided in the clamp V r theupper faceof thetjoe-nail. The hooks are designed to engage-about "the oppositeslat feral edges of th'e nail -and also "the upperand 7.0 loiverffacesof the nailalong theedges; while 5 the fulcrumpointsengage against the upper I face ofthe nail 'a suitable distance from the edgegleaving the inner ends of the clamp levers proJected away from and above the apex of the arched-nail. p a F The inner adjoining [ends of theclamp 1 levers are connected 'attheir eyes by a tensiontie of 6 ofsuitableniaterial that 'is-fiexible andmay be twisted, and it will'be apparent that thetietends to pull on thelever-arms of against the upper face ofthe nail at opposite sidesof the center of the nailflwhfle at U5 sametime the hooks are drawn toward one another to shorten the chord' of the'arc or arch of the nail. In this manner the ingrowing he tension on the tie is increased at regu 1 lar intervals, or as is necessaryto relieve the f abnormality by means of a flat tension link 7 which isfashionedwith wedge shaped ends 8 so that itrnaywith vfacility be turned end for 1 i end while twistingthe tie, andtheinner faces of, thislink'are oppositely rounded or con- 1veX,ed-,.as at 9 to facilitate twistingjofthe-tie we a,

and maintaining the [latter in its proper twisted'position. The tieof course passes through the link and the latter normally lies flat on top of the nail .to prevent untwisting of the tie; As the edges ofthe nail are withdrawn a little at a time from the flesh, the link is turned end for end to increase the tens'ion, and thesuccessi've increases inthe ten; I r v i v i sionofthe tie jfinally restores the nail to V V i l natural p0sition,after which the appliance is of course removed. 7 4 7 In Figure 7 I have show-niche ofa'pairof modified clamps indicated as 10, andprovid- I M ed with a hook'll', which at its extremity has a flat face 12' that engages under the nail near its edge; and insome'instances these hooks l may be .substituted'for the clamp-levers 1 and 2. V I Havingthus fully described my invention, what I clainias newand desire to secure by 7 Letters Patent is;

V J1.;An orthopedic appliance comprising a pair of angular clamp levers each having an" end hook and an" intermediate fulcrum point, said levers having eyes at thei-radj oining ends 3 and a flexible tension tie connecting-said eyes, and a tension link on the tie, wherebythe link may beturned to vary thetension of the tie.

'2. An orthopedic appliance comprising a 7 pair of-angular clampleverseach having an n V 0' end hook andan intermediate bend forming a fulcrum point, said leversjhavingeyes and a flexible tension tie connecting the eyes, and a tension link on-the tie having interior,. opp0- f sitely convexed faceslfor use invaryingithe v 35 tension of theLtie. k I 4 U I p In testimony whereoflfaflix my signature. If i i IRWIN 'BUCKNER; p 

